The State Government’s Priority Start Policy took effect from April 1. It aims to increase the number of apprentices and trainees in the building and construction sector.

This policy applies to all construction and maintenance tenders released after April 1, 2019 where the State Government awards a contract valued over $5million (incl GST) to a company. The policy will require companies to meet a training target rate across the combined construction trade workforce (company and subcontractors) used under the contract.

This affects anyone who:

Enters into a State Government building construction, civil construction or maintenance contract with a total value (incl GST) over $5m after 1 April

Is a head contractor awarded a State Government contract or a subcontractor used for the contract

Is in response to a tender released after April 1, 2019.

Where a party reports under the Government Building Training Policy, then there’s the option to transition to the new policy once the 2018-19 obligations have been fulfilled.

How to calculate the target training rate

The target is based on percentage of all construction trade workers who are apprentices or trainees across the combined West Australian construction trades workforce (head contractors and subcontractors used for the contract that have in-scope construction trade workers).

The
training rates are:

11.5 per cent for general building construction and maintenance contracts

5 per cent for civil construction contracts

Reported each 12 months and at the end of the contract.

Construction apprentices and trainees count if they are:

Employed directly (new and existing employees)

Through group training organisations or a skill hire company

As students undertaking school-based arrangements.

To be deemed compliant with the policy, a head contractor must:

Ensure their subcontractors are aware of the policy and their reporting obligation

Gather the relevant information from their subcontractors

Submit the reports by the due date

Meet the training target

Participate in compliance audits
and address non-compliance as require.

Exemptions

Exemptions exist but must be applied for in advance. Exemptions may be requested where a significant proportion of the work is undertaken in a regional and/or remote location or where there is a high-risk industry or where there is limited or no construction work undertaken during part of the stage or year.